Crafting

The start of something new.  I’m envision a Sherbet Quilt.

Timberline Lodge

We have had a long stretch of clear days which equals amazing sunsets.  After tubing this last weekend we went up to Timberline Lodge for hot chocolates (amazing!!) and enjoyed the view while sipping.

 

Home Owners

On November 15th we officially became homeowners.  We started our search back in March and were convinced that we wanted a house similar to the one we had been renting – a 100 year old craftsman bungalow.

We looked at everything that became available in our area.  We soon discovered that  with an older home came a lot of work, that we didn’t necessarily have the time, skills or money for. The first house we made an offer on ended up having major foundation problems and we withdrew our offer.  In the second house we would have had to rebuild the entire basement just to make the house livable.  And the sellers of a third house provided us with a prior inspection and refused to make any repairs even when we included the cost of the repairs in our offer.

After four previous offers we ended up in the neighborhood we were hoping for (about 10 blocks from our last house), and in a 1970’s ranch – almost the exact opposite of what we were looking for.  It’s perfect – no basement to worry about flooding, no cracks in the foundation, new windows, and a decent roof – completely move in ready!

This Fall . . .

We have been house hunting, and consequently beer drinking.

Checking out homes in a neighborhood we didn’t like.

The excitement (and later disappointment) of putting an offer on a house we didn’t get.

Post viewing a neighborhood house that wasn’t what it promised.

All Cut Up

Alex at  Teaginny Designs says that sewing monochromatic strip sets is her therapy.  Mine is cutting fabric.  I like to sit and watch Law and Order reruns as I trim fabric down to size.  I could spend an hour doing that every night.  Trimming fabric gives me a creative outlet and a chance to clear my head.  Moving on to actually sewing all the cut pieces into a finished project is the hard part for me.  Cut projects tend to linger until the last possible moment or until I find a new project to start cutting.  Lucky for me this baby blanket has a mid-September due-date.

2013 Reading List

I’ve been busy on the reading front.  Here is what I have read this summer:

Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me by Mindy Kaling – I really enjoyed the first part.  I loved reading about her experiences in school and how she started her career.  She seems like someone you would want to hang out with.  However, things fell a bit flat when the book got to her current career.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich – I LOVED this book and I have been recommending it to anyone who will listen.  Part coming of age story, part legal drama.  I was particularly  interested in the intersection of tribal and state law that is the backbone to the story.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – My Mexico beach read.  I had high expectations when I found it in the paranormal/extraterrestrial love story section and two different people announced their love of the series while I was reading the back cover.  I was on board with this book for the first 400+ pages.  But my god the last third lost me.  It felt more like obligation than interest to finish this book.

The Visible Man by Chuck Klosterman – this book is a trip.  It is based around a man with an invisibility suit watching people when they are alone.  I think I liked it.

Portland Rose Test Garden

Yesterday I had two meetings outside the office that left me with time to kill downtown Portland – the perfect excuse to have lunch in the Portland Rose Test Garden

Just Hatched

I have had a bit of a creative void lately, I haven’t sewn or made anything. But a few weeks ago I rearranged my office/craftorium and I suddenly felt like making something. The new arrangement literally and figuratively shifted my point of view. Tied together with some sewing inspiration I found on blogs and I am ready to get started again!

This year my lilies are . . .

AMAZING!

2013 Reading List

Year Zero

Year Zero – Book Club book  that I was really really reallllllly not into.

 

The Dinner

The Dinner – My choice for book club and I really enjoyed it.  I kept thinking about this book long after I finished.

 

Where’d You Go Bernadette

Where’d You Go Bernadette – Another book club book.  Meh.

I also reread the Hunger Games from start to finish, but I’m not sure it counts if you have already read them.